Chapter 16

           TherewasonepointwhichAnne,onreturningtoherfamily,wouldhavebeenmorethankfultoascertaineventhanMrElliot’sbeinginlovewithElizabeth,whichwas,herfather’snotbeinginlovewithMrsClay;andshewasveryfarfromeasyaboutit,whenshehadbeenathomeafewhours.Ongoingdowntobreakfastthenextmorning,shefoundtherehadjustbeenadecentpretenceonthelady’ssideofmeaningtoleavethem.ShecouldimagineMrsClaytohavesaid,that“nowMissAnnewascome,shecouldnotsupposeherselfatallwanted;”forElizabethwasreplyinginasortofwhisper,“Thatmustnotbeanyreason,indeed.IassureyouIfeelitnone.Sheisnothingtome,comparedwithyou;”andshewasinfulltimetohearherfathersay,“Mydearmadam,thismustnotbe.Asyet,youhaveseennothingofBath.Youhavebeenhereonlytobeuseful.Youmustnotrunawayfromusnow.YoumuststaytobeacquaintedwithMrsWallis,thebeautifulMrsWallis.Toyourfinemind,Iwellknowthesightofbeautyisarealgratification.”

           Hespokeandlookedsomuchinearnest,thatAnnewasnotsurprisedtoseeMrsClaystealingaglanceatElizabethandherself.Hercountenance,perhaps,mightexpresssomewatchfulness;butthepraiseofthefineminddidnotappeartoexciteathoughtinhersister.Theladycouldnotbutyieldtosuchjointentreaties,andpromisetostay.